Dezeen » Saudi Arabiahttp://www.dezeen.com
architecture and design magazineTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:25:09 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1Sou Fujimoto designs masterplan featuring water cascading down towers of archeshttp://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/20/sou-fujimoto-designs/
http://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/20/sou-fujimoto-designs/#commentsWed, 20 Nov 2013 14:56:25 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=388673Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto has released images of a conceptual masterplan for an anonymous Middle Eastern city comprising tapering towers of stacked arches cooled by waterfalls (+ slideshow). Fujimoto's two proposals include a complex at the end of a large avenue in the city made up of multiple towers with waterfalls flowing from top to bottom, […]

]]>Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto has released images of a conceptual masterplan for an anonymous Middle Eastern city comprising tapering towers of stacked arches cooled by waterfalls (+ slideshow).

Fujimoto's two proposals include a complex at the end of a large avenue in the city made up of multiple towers with waterfalls flowing from top to bottom, and a low-level retail zone interspersed with towers that would be built along the shore.

The Outlook Tower would create a distinctive presence on the skyline as seen from the adjacent waterfront, with several towers containing a series of waterfalls that descend through the structure to produce a cooling mist.

"By incorporating multiple waterfalls, instead of one large [waterfall], different mountains of water are created feeding the avenue," said the architects. "There will be a wide range [of] waterfalls; smaller on the top to prevent any interference from the wind and larger towards the bottom to create evaporative cooling."

The towers would become increasingly transparent towards the top as the density of the arches decreases.

"From afar, the volumes are perceived as a gateway connecting the Corniche Sea with the mainland while having an overall mirage-like appearance," said the architects.

The second proposal, titled Souk Mirage / Particles of Light, would comprise structural arches stacked on top of each other to create an undulating topology incorporating retail, residential and office spaces, exhibition areas, a community centre, and a series of public courtyards and atriums surrounded by a green plaza.

"This simple system organises the entire site, providing unity and coherence, as well as a unique and timeless architectural expression," the architects said of the modular construction.

Here are some more details about the proposals:

Souk Mirage / Particles of Light - 2013Commercial Building Complex

Urban Scale Concept

This project for the new retail zone seeks to participate fully within the larger master plan of a City. Located between Education City and Financial Center, the site plays a critical role in the future development of this city.

In order to activate this portion of the site as well as to create a new landmark in the city, the project proposes not only low rise development, but a higher development, visible from far around. At an urban scale, the shape of the buildings is inspired by the harmonious silhouette of traditional Bedouin tents, anchoring the whole site in this city’s cultural heritage.

Architectural Concept

Reinterpreting the vibrant atmosphere and lively qualities of the traditional market, as well as the inherent beauty of vernacular Islamic architecture, the project is composed of a modular structural system of arches. Different sizes of arch modules (2.5, 5 and 10 meters) are stacked one on top of another depending on the program needs and the kind of space required.

This simple system organises the entire site, providing unity and coherence, as well as a unique and timeless architectural expression.

Outlook Tower - 2013Observatory / Water Plaza

Urban Concept

This project for an Outlook Tower and water plaza seeks to participate fully within the larger master plan of a City. Located at the beginning/end of the avenue, Education City and Financial Center in between, the site plays a critical role in the future development of this city.

In order to activate this grand plan as well as to create a new landmark in the city, the project proposes multiple transparent towers, visible from far around and offering views on the most prominent historical and contemporary landmarks in this city.

At an urban scale, the shapes of the buildings are inspired by the harmonious silhouette of traditional Bedouin tents, anchoring the whole site in this city’s cultural heritage. From afar, the volumes are perceived as a gateway connecting the Corniche Sea with the mainland while having an overall mirage-like appearance.

Reinterpreting the inherent beauty of vernacular Islamic architecture, the project is composed of a modular structural system of arches. Different sizes of arch modules (3, 6 and 12 meters) are stacked one on top of another depending on the program needs and the kind of space required. This simple system organizes the entire site, providing unity and coherence, as well as a unique and timeless architectural expression.

By incorporating multiple waterfalls, instead of one large, different mountains of water are created feeding the avenue. There will be a wide range waterfalls; smaller on the top to prevent any interference from the wind and larger towards the bottom to create evaporative cooling.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2013/11/20/sou-fujimoto-designs/feed/21Zaha Hadid wins competition for Saudi Arabian metro stationhttp://www.dezeen.com/2013/05/16/king-abdullah-financial-district-metro-station-by-zaha-hadid-architects/
http://www.dezeen.com/2013/05/16/king-abdullah-financial-district-metro-station-by-zaha-hadid-architects/#commentsThu, 16 May 2013 11:14:38 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=317957News: Zaha Hadid Architects has won a competition to design a metro station for Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital. As part of Riyadh's all-new public transport system, the station will be located on the edge of the King Abdullah Financial District and will function as a major interchange between three of the city's six new metro lines. Zaha […]

]]>News: Zaha Hadid Architects has won a competition to design a metro station for Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital.

As part of Riyadh's all-new public transport system, the station will be located on the edge of the King Abdullah Financial District and will function as a major interchange between three of the city's six new metro lines.

Zaha Hadid Architects has planned the four-storey structure with six platforms, as well as two floors of underground parking. A network of pedestrian pathways will snake through the building, designed to minimise congestion, plus passengers will be able to access the city's monorail network via a new bridge.

The walls and roof of the building will appear as a series of undulating waves interspersed with curved Mashrabiya screens. The architects describe it as "a three-dimensional lattice defined by a sequence of opposing sine-waves".

The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station will serve as a key interchange on the new Riyadh Metro network for Line 1, as well as the terminus of Line 4 (for passengers to the airport) and Line 6. The local monorail can also be accessed from the station via a skybridge. With six platforms over four public floors and two levels of underground car parking, the KAFD Metro Station will be integrated within the urban context of the financial district, responding to the functional requirements of a multimodal transport centre and the district's future vision. The project extends beyond the simple station typology to emphasise the building's importance as a dynamic, multi-functional public space; not only an intermediate place perceived through quick transitions, but also a dramatic public space for the city.

The design places the station at the centre of a network of pathways, skybridges and metro lines envisaged by the KAFD master plan. Connectivity diagrams and traffic across the site have been mapped and structured to clearly delineate the pedestrian routes within the building, optimise internal circulation and avoid congestion. The resulting configuration is a three-dimensional lattice defined by a sequence of opposing sine-waves (generated from the repetition and frequency variation of station's daily traffic flows) which act as the spine for the building's circulation. These sine-waves are extended to the station's envelope and strictly affiliated to its internal layout, translating the architectural concept to the exterior.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2013/05/16/king-abdullah-financial-district-metro-station-by-zaha-hadid-architects/feed/20Shard builders to construct world's tallest skyscraperhttp://www.dezeen.com/2013/02/21/shard-firm-chosen-for-worlds-tallest-building-in-saudi-arabia/
http://www.dezeen.com/2013/02/21/shard-firm-chosen-for-worlds-tallest-building-in-saudi-arabia/#commentsThu, 21 Feb 2013 15:06:41 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=293055News: Mace, the British firm behind London's Shard skyscraper, has been selected to oversee the construction of the world’s tallest building in Saudi Arabia. Construction company Mace will work alongide another British firm, EC Harris, to build the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, which will stand more than 1 kilometre high on completion, as we reported previously. […]

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2013/02/21/shard-firm-chosen-for-worlds-tallest-building-in-saudi-arabia/feed/1The Kingdom Tower by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecturehttp://www.dezeen.com/2011/08/02/first-image-of-worlds-tallest-buildingto-be-built-in-jeddah/
http://www.dezeen.com/2011/08/02/first-image-of-worlds-tallest-buildingto-be-built-in-jeddah/#commentsTue, 02 Aug 2011 12:25:51 +0000http://www.dezeen.com/?p=143202Here's the first set of images of the Kingdom Tower, about to begin construction in Jeddah and set to be the world's tallest building at over 1000 metres. The design is by Chicago firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Smith also worked on Dubai’s 828 metre-tall Burj Khalifa, which opened last year and is […]

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture is pleased to announce that it is designing Kingdom Tower, to be the world’s tallest building, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, near the Red Sea.

At over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) and a total construction area of 530,000 square meters (5.7 million square feet), Kingdom Tower will be the centerpiece and first construction phase of the Kingdom City development on a 5.3 million-square-meter site in north Jeddah. The tower’s height will be at least 173 meters (568 feet) taller than the world’s current tallest building, Dubai’s 828-meter-tall Burj Khalifa, which was designed by Adrian Smith while at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Kingdom Tower will feature a Four Seasons hotel, Four Seasons serviced apartments, Class A office space, luxury condominiums and the world’s highest observatory.

Design development of the tower is under way, with construction to begin imminently. Foundation drawings are complete and the piling for the tower is currently being tendered. Kingdom Tower will cost approximately $1.2 billion to construct, while the cost of the entire Kingdom City project is anticipated to be $20 billion.

AS+GG is leading an interdisciplinary design team that also includes building services engineering consultants Environmental Systems Design, Inc. (ESD) and structural engineering consultants Thornton Tomasetti. The developer of Kingdom City, Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), selected the AS+GG scheme after a lengthy competition process in which SOM, Pickard Chilton, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Pelli Clarke Pelli and Foster + Partners also participated.

“Our vision for Kingdom Tower is one that represents the new spirit of Saudi Arabia,” said Smith, whose experience in supertall tower design at SOM also includes Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, Nanjing Greenland Financial Center in Nanjing, China, the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago and Pearl River Tower, now in the late stages of construction in Guangzhou, China. “This tower symbolizes the Kingdom as an important global business and cultural leader, and demonstrates the strength and creative vision of its people. It represents new growth and high-performance technology fused into one powerful iconic form. ”
The project was announced today by His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, nephew of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah and chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, which is a partner in Jeddah Economic Company along with prominent Jeddah businessmen Samaual Bakhsh and Abdulrahman Hassan Sharbatly and Saudi Binladin Group (SBG). SBG is also the contractor for Kingdom Tower.

“Prince Alwaleed, Mr. Bakhsh, Mr. Sharbatly and I were impressed by the boldness and simplicity of the AS+GG design,” said Talal Al Maiman, Executive Director, Development and Domestic Investments, a Board member of Kingdom Holding Company and a board member of JEC. “Kingdom Tower’s height is remarkable, obviously, but the building’s iconic status will not depend solely on that aspect. Its form is brilliantly sculpted, making it quite simply one of the most beautiful buildings in the world of any height.”

In addition to its status as an architectural landmark and economic symbol, Kingdom Tower will enjoy great cultural significance. “We envision Kingdom Tower as an iconic new marker of Jeddah’s historic importance as the traditional gateway to the holy city of Mecca,” Al Maiman said. He noted that the southeast leg of Kingdom Tower’s tripedal base is on a direct line with the Ka’ba in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site.

AS+GG’s design for Kingdom Tower is both highly technological and distinctly organic. “With its slender, subtly asymmetrical massing, the tower evokes a bundle of leaves shooting up from the ground—a burst of new life that heralds more growth all around it,” Smith said.

The sleek, streamlined form of the tower was inspired by the folded fronds of young desert plant growth, Gordon Gill added. “The way the fronds sprout upward from the ground as a single form, then start separating from each other at the top, is an analogy of new growth fused with technology,” he said. “We’re thrilled to be working with His Highness and Jeddah Economic Company to help define this path for the Kingdom.”

While the design is contextual to Saudi Arabia, it also represents an evolution and a refinement of an architectural continuum of skyscraper design. The three-petal footprint is ideal for residential units, and the tapering wings produce an aerodynamic shape that helps reduce structural loading due to wind vortex shedding. The Kingdom Tower design embraces its architectural pedigree, taking full advantage of the proven design strategies and technological strategies of its lineage, refining and advancing them to achieve new heights.

The result is an elegant, cost-efficient and highly constructible design that is at once grounded in built tradition and aggressively forward-looking, taking advantage of new and innovative thinking about technology, building materials, life-cycle considerations and energy conservation. For example, the project will feature a high-performance exterior wall system that will minimize energy consumption by reducing thermal loads. In addition, each of Kingdom Tower’s three sides features a series of notches that create pockets of shadow that shield areas of the building from the sun and provide outdoor terraces with stunning views of Jeddah and the Red Sea.

The great height of Kingdom Tower necessitates one of the world’s most sophisticated elevator systems. The Kingdom Tower complex will contain 59 elevators, including 54 single-deck and five double-deck elevators, along with 12 escalators. Elevators serving the observatory will travel at a rate of 10 meters per second in both directions.

Another unique feature of the design is a sky terrace, roughly 30 meters (98 feet) in diameter, at level 157. It is an outdoor amenity space intended for use by the penthouse floor.

AS+GG also designed the master plan for the 23-hectare Kingdom Tower Waterfront District, which surrounds the tower and which will include residential and commercial buildings, a shopping mall, high-quality outdoor spaces and other amenities. The Waterfront District provides a cohesive and pedestrian-friendly setting for Kingdom Tower while creating a pleasant neighborhood experience along the Kingdom City lakefront.

The district encompasses a high-end shopping mall designed by AS+GG, plus additional development parcels that accommodate commercial and high-density residential uses, offices, two luxury hotels and high-quality open spaces, including the central Tower Plaza. A serene waterfront promenade connects Kingdom Tower, the various development parcels, the open space areas and the mall together. The result is an exciting mixed-use area that offers a concentrated and comprehensive experience including vibrant shopping, entertainment and open-space amenities. The Waterfront District also provides an array of connections to other areas within Kingdom City’s overall master plan, designed by HOK Architects.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2011/08/02/first-image-of-worlds-tallest-buildingto-be-built-in-jeddah/feed/26Wireless router vase by STChttp://www.dezeen.com/2008/11/21/wireless-router-vase-by-stc/
http://www.dezeen.com/2008/11/21/wireless-router-vase-by-stc/#commentsFri, 21 Nov 2008 14:36:43 +0000http://www.dezeen.com/2008/11/21/wireless-router-vase-by-stc/Saudi Arabia-based telecommunications company STC have designed a wireless internet router that can also be used to hold flowers. "The STC Router successfully bridges the gap between lifestyle and technology with it’s flower vase functionality," say the designers. The following is from Saudi Telecom: -- STC (Saudi Telecom) was in need for a unique router […]

Saudi Arabia-based telecommunications company STC have designed a wireless internet router that can also be used to hold flowers.

"The STC Router successfully bridges the gap between lifestyle and technology with it’s flower vase functionality," say the designers.

The following is from Saudi Telecom:

--

STC (Saudi Telecom) was in need for a unique router design that would provoke a positive emotional response. Wireless internet, Voice over IP, land line telephone and wired DSL are all incorporated into this elegant device.